The means of Attaining Barakah in Food (Part 2)

The means of Attaining Barakah in Food according to the Sunnah of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) 

One of the recommended Prophetic manners of eating is to gather for the food. Gathering together is one of the means of Barakah (blessings) descending upon the food. As the number of people who eat increases, the Barakah (blessings) will also increase.

Jabir ibn ‘Abdullaah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated: “I heard the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) say: ‘The food of one is sufficient for two, and the food of two is sufficient for four, and the food of four is sufficient for eight.” [Muslim]

Ibn Hajar (Rahimahullaah) said: “At-Tabarani reported a Hadeeth on the authority of ‘Ibn ‘Umar (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) that mentions the reason behind that Barakah, saying: ‘Eat all together and do not separate, for the food of one is sufficient for two…’ This indicates that sufficiency is attained due to the Barakah (blessings) of gathering together, and as the gathering increases, the Barakah increases as well.” [Fat’h Al-Baari]

This Hadeeth indicates that if few people share a meal at the dinner table, a small quantity of food will be enough for many people. Moreover, this increases mutual love and feelings towards one another.

The Hadeeth also means that if one has food which he determines to be sufficient for himself, and another person comes, he should not show miserliness and say, “This is my food.” Rather, he should give him from it, and it will be sufficient for them both. This is because getting together to eat will make the food blessed and will be enough for all.

Wahshi ibn Harb (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) narrated that his father said on the authority of his grandfather: “The Companions of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘O Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)! We eat but we are not satisfied.’ He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Perhaps you eat separately.’ They replied: ‘Yes.’ He (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘If you gather together to eat and mention Allaah’s Name, you will be blessed in it.’” [Abu Dawoud and authenticated by Al-Albaani who graded it Hasan]

Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) said regarding those who are not satiated: “This is because of many reasons such as:

a) Not mentioning the Name of Allaah on the food. The food on which the Name of Allaah is not mentioned causes/ invites the Shaytaan to eat with the person and the Barakah will be removed from his food.

b) Eating food separately. This is another means of the removal of the Barakah, because separation entails that each person will eat from a plate that is particular for himself. Accordingly, the food is separated and the Barakah is removed. If every person has food on a separate plate or container, the food will be divided, but if it is combined and shared on one plate, where all people gather to eat from it, then there will be Barakah in even a little food. This shows us that a group of people should eat their food from one container. If there are five or ten people, their food will be in one place according to their number. This is one of the means of the Barakah being sent down, while separation and division is a means of removal of the Barakah.” [Sharh Riyadus-Saliheen]

3 – The recommendation of eating from the side of the plate

Ibn ‘Abbaas (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhuma) narrated that the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “When one of you eats, he must not eat from the top of the dish (i.e. its middle), but he should eat from its bottom (i.e. that which is near to him); for the blessing descends on the top of it.” [Saheeh Abu Dawoud no. 3772 and authenticated by Al-Albaani who graded it Saheeh]

In another version reported by Ahmad, the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Eat from the sides of the bowl, and do not eat from its middle, for indeed the blessing descends to the middle of the food.” [Authenticated by Al-Albaani who graded it Hasan]

Blessing is a phenomenon that is hidden to the naked eye. The Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was aware of it. It was on the basis of this knowledge that he informed the Companions that the blessings descend on the middle of the food, then spreads to its edges. Therefore, diners should avoid eating from the middle and only eat from the sides, so that the blessing continues to descend.

The middle of the food is particularized with the descent of the Barakah because it is the most just of places. The reason behind the prohibition is to make the eater cautious of not being deprived of the Barakah which descends on the middle of the food.

If there is a group of people eating together, the one who precedes others in taking from the middle of the food before its side has behaved wrongly with others and he is keeping the good to himself apart from others, and Allaah knows best. [‘Awn Al-Ma’bood]

Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah) said: “The Scholars said that the statement of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam): ‘The blessings descend in the middle of the food’ indicates that if a person eats from the top (i.e. its middle), the Barakah will be removed from the food – unless there are many kinds of food and there is a certain kind in the middle which he wants, then it is permissible. For example, when the meat is put in the middle of the plate, it is permissible to eat a piece of the meat because there is none on the sides. This is similar to how the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa Sallam) sought to eat the pieces of gourd from the various sides of the dish.” [Sharh Riyadus-Saliheen]

4 – The recommendation of licking the fingers and picking up fallen morsels and cleaning them from dirt, then eating them

Jabir (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) commanded the licking of fingers and cleaning of the dish, saying: “You do not know in which portion the blessing lies.” [Muslim]

Jabir (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) also narrated that Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “When a morsel of any of you falls, he should pick it up and remove any dirt on it and then eat it, and he should not leave it for the Shaytaan. He should not wipe his hand with a towel until he has licked his fingers, for he does not know in what portion of food the blessing lies.” [Muslim]

Commentary:

Imaam An-Nawawi said in his explanation of Hadeeth Muslim:

“These Ahadeeth emphasize the following points:

a) Satan awaits for the human, accompanies him, and tries to overpower him. He tries to partake with the human even in his food and drink.

b) Removing dirt from a fallen morsel and eating it is an expression of humility, overcoming the Shaytaan, as well as depriving him. This is because he is an enemy whom one should fight and be cautious of.

c) The blessing of the food could be in a fallen morsel; therefore, one should not waste or leave it.

d) The wisdom behind licking the fingers and plates is that the diner never knows whether a blessing lies in what has been eaten by him, or the particles sticking to his fingers and the plate, or the fallen morsel. Therefore, these particles should not be wasted. They may contain a blessing and prove more useful for the diner’s health and strength. Moreover, by this he escapes disregarding the bounty of Allaah.

e) The Barakah of the food means to attain nourishment, to be safe from its harmful effect (on the body) and to strengthen the body on obedience to Allaah, and so forth.”[End quote]

5 – Mentioning the Name of Allaah on the food before eating

It is narrated with a correct chain of narration from ‘Aishah (Radia-Allaahu ‘anha) who said: “The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was eating food with six of his companions. A bedouin came and ate it in two mouthfuls. The Messenger of Allaah (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘As for him, had he mentioned Allaah’s Name, it would have been enough for all of you.’” [Saheeh At-Tirmidhi no. 1858 and graded Saheeh by Al-Albaani]

This Hadeeth indicates that if one did not mention the Name of Allaah on his food, the blessings will be removed from it. This is because the Shaytaan will eat with him, so the food which he thinks will be sufficient for him will not be sufficient.

Some Scholars said that mentioning the Name of Allaah when one intends to eat is obligatory. The person who does not mention the Name of Allaah is considered disobedient to Allaah and pleased with the Shaytaan – who is his enemy – to share his food with him. If one forgets to mention the Name of Allaah before beginning to eat, he should say it when he remembers during eating or at the end and say:

“Bismillaah Awwalahu wa Aakhirahu”

“In the Name of Allaah in the beginning and in the end.” [At-Tirmidhi]

Sources:

 Saheeh Al-Adaab wal Akhlaaq by Shaikh Al-Albaani (Rahimahullaah)

Sharh Riyadus-Saliheen by Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaimeen (Rahimahullaah)

Riyadus-Saliheen by Daarus-Salaam